Sustainability in production the application of environmental tools

This paper focuses on the presentation of MIPEL (Optimum Management of Industrial Products at the End of their useful Life), a research project which aims at the application of environmental tools, such as "Life Cycle Analysis" and "Design for Environment", for the optimisation of the environmental management of industrial products (focusing on electrical and electronic equipment). The strategic goal is to decrease the volume of waste, with the use of the following: Optimisation of the environmental management of industrial products at the end of their useful life, with the use of the existing infrastructure. Introduction of new technologies on the disassembly and environmental management of the industrial products at the end of their useful life. Redesign of the industrial products in order to become environment friendly. Exploitation of the parts and materials of the industrial products at the end of their useful life. Environmentally sound disposal of the parts which are not further exploitable. Decrease of the hazardous materials, raw materials and natural resources that are utilised for the production of such products. The above mentioned environmental tools are applied to "NetMod", which is used as a case study in the bounds of the project. "NetMod" is an ISDN Network Terminal that has been developed by INTRACOM S.A., one of the project's partners.